Being A Good Digital Citizen: It's Important

I have been hearing a term a lot lately: “digital citizenship.” I wanted to understand what exactly this is and why it is important. I learned more on this subject and felt it was worth sharing with you.

What is digital citizenship? Put simply, it is the way we conduct ourselves in the online community. Growing up, we were all taught the value of being a good citizen. Our words and our actions can have an impact, and through these, we support each other in the community we live in.

But being a good digital citizen is also important and is more far-reaching. It is about being responsible in what we post, share, comment on, or otherwise interact with online. Digital citizenship is also about using our knowledge, skills, and experience to safely navigate the online world.

We frequently hear of someone getting a virus on their computer, or being scammed for thousands of dollars. The reality of our online world is sobering in this statistic: There is an online attack every 39 seconds. Many young people have to deal with severe cyberbullying, online predators, and other threats.

According to the Cyberbullying Research Center, rumors being spread online and mean or hurtful comments are reported as the most common types of cyberbullying, with 22.5% of children ages 12-17 reporting being physically threatened through text messaging, and 22.1% being physically threatened online. Being a good digital citizen also means protecting our children from these dangerous threats.

No matter your age, it is important to be cautious when using these tools. Digital citizenship is important for everyone because it ensures our safety online, encourages respect in digital interactions, and educates us about responsibility in managing personal information and media consumption.

Meanwhile, Davina will be teaching her monthly Kimball Makerspace class 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12, here at the libraary. Hurry in to sign up. Space is limited.